In 1899, cavalry captain Max Emil Frederick von Stephanitz bought Hektor Linkrshein, the first dog registered as a German shepherd.Hektor, later renamed Horand von Grafrath, had a white shepherd named Greif as his grandfather.
As a descendant of a white dog, Horand (or Hektor, as he prefers) transmitted the genes of white fur to his descendants, although he was not a white dog, so the original German shepherds can be dark, light or white.
- In the 1930s.
- However.
- The absurd idea arose that the white fur was characteristic of the lower German shepherds and that dogs with this fur degenerated the breed in Germany.
- This idea was based on the belief that white dogs were albinos and therefore had health problems that could be inherited by their children.
Vs albino dogs white dogs
Although albino dogs may have white fur, not all white dogs are albinos, albino dogs do not have normal pigmentation, so their skin is usually pale pink and their eyes are very clear and pale.White dogs that are not albinos, have darker eyes and skin and generally have no health problems for albino dogs.This misunderstanding resulted in the German shepherd’s standard excluding white dogs.As a result, white dogs were no longer used as breeding animals and puppies of this color were removed.The white German shepherd was considered an aberration in Germany, but is still bred in the United States and Canada without major health problems in the breed or in “degenerate” dogs.
In the late 1950s, the American German Shepherd Club copied the idea of the Germans and removed white dogs from the official breed standard, so breeders of these dogs could only register them in the American Kennel Club, but not in the breed club.. In the 1960s, an American breeder named Agatha Burch emigrated to Switzerland with a white shepherd named Wolf.It was with Wolf, other dogs imported from the United States and some other European countries, that several Swiss began to breed these dogs and developed the breed in Europe.
Finally, the Swiss Canine Society recognized the white shepherd as an independent race, under the name of Swiss white shepherd, after various efforts and presenting an impeccable book of origins with eight pedigree of different lines, the company managed to count on the International Federation of Filmmaking (FCI) temporarily recognizes the Swiss white shepherd with the number 347.
Today, the Swiss white shepherd is a popular dog for various functions, mainly in search and rescue, although the breed has some popularity in Europe and North America, is not as well known as its German shepherd brother, however, every day has more.fans from all over the world.
According to the FCI breed standard, the height at the cross is 60 to 66 centimeters for males and 55 to 61 centimeters for females, the ideal weight is 30 to 40 kilos for men and 25 to 35 kilos for women.Robust and muscular dog, but elegant and harmonious at the same time.Its body is elongated, with the ratio of length to height at the junction of 12:10.The cross is well raised, while the back is horizontal and the lower back very muscular.. The rump, long and moderately wide, gently tilts towards the base of the tail.The breast is oval, well developed on the back and with a marked rim.However, the chest is not very wide. The flanks rise slightly in the belly.
The head of this dog is powerful, thin, fine in shape and very well proportioned with the body.Although the naso-frontal depression is poorly marked, it is clearly visible.The nose is black, but the “snow nose” (totally or partially pink, or losing its pigmentation in certain seasons, especially in winter). The lips are also black, thin and tight. The eyes of the Swiss white shepherd are almond, oblique, brown to dark brown.tall, tall and perfectly erect and triangular, which gives the dog the appearance of a wolf.
This dog’s tail is sword-shaped, has a weak insertion, and must reach at least the shaft. At rest, the dog keeps it suspended, although the distal third may be slightly bent upward. lift the tail, but not above the margin of the back.
The hair is one of the characteristics of this breed, it is double layer, dense, medium or long and well stretched, the interior is abundant, while the exterior is rough and smooth, the color should be white throughout the body.
In general, Swiss white shepherds are intelligent and faithful dogs, their temperament can be somewhat nervous or shy, but when they are well educated and socialized, they adapt easily to different situations, so they can live in different places and in different conditions.
The socialization of puppies is very important because, because of their pastoral character, white shepherds tend to be reserved and cautious with strangers, even becoming very shy and aggressive out of fear, they can also be aggressive with other dogs of the same genus.However, when they are well socialized, these dogs can get along with strangers, dogs and other animals, in addition, when they are well socialized, they usually get along very well with children and are very affectionate dogs with their families.
With good socialization and education, white shepherds can be excellent companion dogs, both for families with children and adults.Of course, interactions between dogs and children should always be monitored to avoid situations of risk or abuse, either from child to dog or vice versa.
The hair is relatively easy to maintain, as it is enough to brush it once or twice a week to keep it in excellent condition, it is not necessary to bathe very often as this weakens the hairs and you should only do it when the dogs are dirty. .
White shepherds are generally not very active indoors, but they need a good daily dose of outdoor exercise to burn their energy.They need at least two or three walks a day, plus game time.It is also good to train them in the obedience of the dog and, if possible, to give them the opportunity to practice a canine sport such as agility.
These dogs need company, too. Being shepherd dogs, they have evolved to live in contact with other animals, including humans, do not need to be valued all the time, nor do they need to spend every minute of the day with their owners, but they need quality time with them.Although these dogs can live outdoors, they can also adapt well to living in an apartment as long as they do enough daily exercise.Of course, it is better to live in a house with garden and have access to it to exercise.Although they can adapt to life in overcrowded areas, they are better in quieter and less stressed areas.
Swiss white shepherds are very intelligent and learn with ease, so dog training is easy with these dogs and it is possible to train them in different activities, as they are as versatile as German shepherds, these dogs can respond well to different training styles.but the best results are obtained through any positive training variant, such as clicker training.
Being relatively quiet dogs, white shepherds are not very likely to develop behavioral problems when properly socialized, however, it is important to give them a lot of exercise and camaraderie so that they do not get bored or develop anxiety.they can develop destructive habits.
Although on average it is healthier than many other dog breeds, the Swiss white shepherd is predisposed to certain diseases. According to the United White Shepherd Club, common diseases in the breed include: allergies, dermatitis, gastric sprains, epilepsy, heart disease and hip dysplasia Among the least common diseases of the breed are Adison’s disease, cataracts and hypertrophic osteodistrophy.